DePaul Hammers Marquette in Seniors' Finale

CHICAGO- The DePaul Blue Demons found their own source of renewable energy in Saturday's Senior Night game against the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Senior Holly Medley ignited a 25-4 first half run as the Demons (21-8, 9-6) beat Marquette 74-60 before a sell out crowd at McGrath Arena.

Down 22-14 at the 9:00 mark, Medley' jumper, two free throws, and steal helped the Demons gain a lead they would not relinquish.

"Holly is an energy player," DePaul head coach Doug Bruno said. "That is what she does. She brings a life and gusto to the game anytime she gets on the floor. When Holly is executing with functional energy, she is a very positive help to this basketball team. She had that going tonight and I am very proud of her doing it on her Senior Night."

"I was also impressed with our team overcoming adversity in the first half. When we were down 22-14 I thought we could have wilted and our players showed some very solid resolve."

Keisha Hampton scored 13 points and Deirdre Naughton 11 as the Demons held a 39-26 lead at the half.

DePaul's Natasha Williams re-injured her left MCL in the first half. The Demons suffered another setback when at the 13:02 mark of the second half Felicia Chester left the game with a left ankle injury. Neither player returned to action.

"In the second half when we lost Natasha Williams and then Felicia Chester, our entire front line, I thought those were a few moments of huge adversity when our players had to step up," Bruno said.

A three pointer by Hampton pushed the Demons' lead to 63-45 with 10:17 left to play.

Hampton finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and two blocked shots in recording her third double double of the year. Naughton added 20 points and two of the team's eight steals. Medley finished with seven points, five rebounds, and three steals in 21 minutes of play.

"We were hitting shots tonight and we had a great transition game, but it was really more important that we were getting one and outs and getting in passing lanes, all that kind of stuff that feeds our offense," Naughton said.

Krystal Ellis led Marquette (16-13, 7-8) with 13 points.

Marquette had been 11-0 when shooting a better field goal percentage than its opponent. The Golden Eagles shot 46% to DePaul's 37%.

The Demons conclude the Big East regular season this Monday night at Cincinnati.